Freshman class could produce plenty of players in 2009

Aug 24, 2009

Golden Eagle Football Camp Notebook / Monday, Aug.
24

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Among the injured players watching from
the sidelines last Saturday night when Tennessee Tech held its
first fall scrimmage were juniors Taylor Askew and Andrew Higgins,
both projected starters in the offensive line.

Their absence has meant opportunity is knocking on the door for a
couple of newcomers, and both Michael Baker and Hunter Beedle have
answered the call.

“We’re real excited about them,” Brown said.
“We have two true freshmen in the two-deep of the offensive
line right now, and they have a real good chance of
playing.”

In fact, Brown said several true freshmen could surface in the
two-deep lineup by the time the regular season arrives in less than
three weeks.

Michael Baker is a 6-2, 245-pound walk-on freshman from
Westmoreland (Tenn.) High School. Beedle is a 6-3, 280-pound
freshman from Sullivan South High School in Kingsport, Tenn., and
was among Tech’s signing class in the spring.

The Golden Eagles worked out twice on Monday, but Brown allowed
his players to leave their pads in the dressing room and practice
in shorts.

“We’re really beat up from Saturday night,”
Brown explained. The team was scheduled to get out of pads for
Wednesday’s practice, but the third-year coach moved up his
plans a couple of days.
“We worked on correcting things in the morning, and we
installed more in the afternoon,” Brown explained.

The team will be back on the field in pads Tuesday for its one
practice, and then split the two practices on Wednesday. Tech will
be in pads in Wednesday morning’s session and in shorts
Wednesday afternoon.

Sophom
ore Tim Benford was slowed Monday by back pains, forcing him to
miss the afternoon practice.

Brown said Benford would be back in action Tuesday, but the same
couldn’t be said for another Golden Eagle receiver.

Corey Watson (left) suffered a broken collarbone during the
Saturday night scrimmage, and is expected to be sidelined for four
weeks.

Battling for the backup role

Senior Lee Sweeney has locked up the starting assignment at
quarterback and the battle is on for the backup role, according to
Brown.

“Lee is the starter,” Brown said, “and the other
three quarterbacks – Tre Lamb, Cass Barnes and Clint Brewster
-- are battling for number two.”

Lamb and Barnes have an edge as returnees who were on hand for
spring drills. Brewster, on the other hand, has some catching up to
do, according to Brown.

“Clint is behind right now, and we’re trying to catch
him up,” Brown said. “There’s no question about
his ability. He’s a very talented young man. He’s just
lost right now. He wasn’t here all summer so he didn’t
have a chance to study any tape.

“A quarterback has got to know the system because it all
happens so fast, and right now he’s late on things,
he’s confused. He has a lot of talent, and there’s no
doubt he will learn it.

“We thought when we signed him that he’d be here all
summer, but he had some classes to finish up in California. Not
being here has really hurt him,” Brown said. “Being
here would have made a huge difference.”

Brown said by next spring, with Sweeney’s career completed,
the competition between Brewster, Barnes and Lamb should be
exceptionally close.

“Come next spring it will be real interesting,” Brown
said.

The competitive battle between that threesome is something Brown
looks forward to, but not anytime soon.

“Let’s hope that’s not something we have to deal
with this year,” Brown said. “Let’s hope Lee
stays healthy.”

The Golden Eagles open the regular season on Thursday, Sept. 10,
hosting Pikeville College at 7 p.m. in Tucker Stadium. Season
tickets are on sale online, or in the Athletics Ticket Office
(931-372-3940).